The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences has awarded the 2006 Lorentz medal to physicist Leo Kadanoff, from the University of Chicago. He will receive the medal in Amsterdam on 27 November for his contributions to statistical physics, in particular to the theory of phase transitions.

Kadanoff's research has revolutionised the way in which physicists regard sudden changes in matter, e.g. the transition from liquid to gas or the appearance of a magnetic field in a metal. Kadanoff has discovered that such 'phase transitions' obey certain laws applying
universally.

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Kadanoff's ideas have been exceptionally fruitful in other areas of physics, too. By applying his theory to such diverse phenomena as turbulent water and running sand piles, he developed a systematic approach to what are now called 'complex systems'. In addition, his work has cast new light on chaotic dynamics beyond physics, such as stock market fluctuations, heart beat irregularities and traffic jams.

Leo P. Kadanoff received his Ph.D in physics from Harvard, which was followed by a postdoctoral in Copenhagen. He taught at the University of Illinois (1962-1969) and Brown University (1969-1978), before moving to the University of Chicago where he is John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Physics and Mathematics. He is currently President Elect of the American Physical Society.

The Lorentz medal was established in 1925 by the Royal Academy, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the doctorate of Hendrik Antoon Lorentz. The Nobel laureate Lorentz (1853-1928) was the founding father of theoretical physics in The Netherlands. The gold medal is awarded once every four years in recognition of important contributions to theoretical physics. Out of 19 previous Lorentz medallists, 11 went on to win the Nobel prize.